My Story

Educator

I graduated with my Teacher Education North certificate from the University of Alberta exactly twenty years ago. I taught in French immersion, high school, elementary, catholic school and at every grade level in Prince George and the surrounding area while I raised my family in the School District 57 area. Then, for the 2024 school year, I realized something. My kids don’t need me anymore. They were both self-sufficient and thriving on their own. SO, my adventures began. Last year, I packed up my stuff, hooked up my Boler trailer to the jeep, and took off. I spent time teaching in Boston Bar, BC in the heart of the lovely Fraser Canyon. Every day driving to work, I was awestruck at the beauty of that canyon and grateful for the opportunity. I also taught in Hope and Chilliwack. I loved buying farm fresh food on my lunch breaks in Chilliwack and Hope was a healing home for me! It was all so very fascinating and inspiring. It got me thinking, I want to be an adventure teacher! I want to travel all over BC, and maybe other provinces too, and get to know kids and their communities in every corner of this place. That idea led me to Tsay Keh Dene, where I’m currently posted for this school year. I love teaching, and I love learning even more. Adventure teaching is my way of learning all about these places and the people who live here.

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Why do you like teaching children?

A question I am often asked. Well, I really like people, and all people start out as kids. I have been treated with respect and kindness by my elders all my life, and because of that, I learned how important it is to be respectful and kind to children. They want to be heard. They want to be supported. They wan to be loved. I find that super easy, just ask my 21 nephews/nieces and idontknowhowmany greats, or my bazillions of kid cousins. I’m always the person with the children, telling stories, laughing with them, making them laugh, and invariably teaching them something to help them in life. My grandmother, Cora Ventress was a teacher in small Rural K-12 schools in BC and Alberta in the 1930’s-retirement. She also wrote books, poems, and manuscripts. She was an activist and battled the government to stop site C dam long ago, which sadly has now been built. She’d be mad. But Grandma would be proud of me if she knew about my adventure teaching lifestyle. I have always been interested in human rights, anti-racism, and fairness. So, when I heard about Tsay Keh Dene nation, I decided to take my Teacher Education North training where it belongs, NORTH, to the fascinating Tsay Keh Dene nation. Please watch the documentary “The Scattering of Man” to learn more about the situation up here.

I hope grandmother Cora is somewhere in spirit smiling down at this latest adventure here in Tsay Keh Dene Nation.

If I’ve ever been to your community and you would like to reach out, or even if I have never been to your community and you would like me to teach there, you can contact me anytime using the form below or by email at info@valerielucas.ca

Credentials

Master of Arts and Professional Communication from Royal Roads University

FULL RESUME – Google Docs

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